Tri Girl 2010

About a quarter mile into the run part of the race, I heard a distinctly southern voice call out to me "come on, you and me, we are going to do this together". Her name was Sandra, she was a few years older than me which meant that she went out with the last wave while I went out with the first wave. She had caught up with me. She saw my age on the back of my leg, and saw that I was struggling, and offered help. In her sweet southern voice, she said "C'mon, well run to that tree, then walk to the orange cone down the way." I said "Okay", and off we went. After running together for a little bit, I asked her if this was her first. She said no, that her partner was younger than her and had already finished and she needed a buddy to finish. So, we were buddies. I asked her "Are you an angel?" She said "No", and I said "Well, this is my first and today you are my angel." At one point towards the end, I started to lag behind, and she said "C'mon". I answered "I'm right behind you." She replied, "You can't be behind me, you have to be with me", so I sped up and we ran together across the finish line with her sweet southern voice encouraging me all the way "Were almost there, you can do it.".

And I did it. Although I think I might have been last in my heat to get out of the water, I really did it. I swam in the open water without a life vest attached to my body. I put my face in the water and swam. The water felt good, soft and warm. When I got nervous, I began my drills: one two three, left side, one two three, right side. When I got tired, I flipped over onto my back and kicked my way to shore. Just like everyone told me to do.

And I wasn't last! (Almost, but NOT LAST!)

Thank you to all of the encouragers who help me along the way. There are too many to name and I will leave someone out if I try to. Thank you to all of the WOL's, coaches, friends, and Running Buddies! You are all Angels!
My sticker is on my car now, too!
Linda Hopson, triathlete